Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Wink, Wink!

Pamela found a new passion in life, a very Southern one: sitting on the back porch, rocking the day away. With the two ceiling fans, the face-melting heat is manageable. Lately, to respect her wishes, we do whatever lessons we can outdoors. We both find it a peaceful place to learn.

Yesterday, we were reading the speech therapy script ala the Association Method. To make sure she is listening, I will occasionally say the wrong word and she finds it funny. Pamela turned the tables on me by winking as if to tell me nonverbally, "Make a mistake, Mom, because I like it when you are silly." Of course, I played a long and thought of some whoppers to put in the story.

Today's story for speech therapy involved a lamb and a blind girl. Pamela did a wonderful job of connecting the story to her memory of lambs and blind people. Then, when we headed over to my parents house, I noticed her carrying something with her. She had rummaged through her toys in her room and pulled out this sheep to take with her!

Monday, August 06, 2007

What Are You Doing?

You might be asking that about the Glasers. . . The computer is dead for good, and the Geek Squad was unable to perform the hoped-for miracle. Yesterday, we took advantage of South Carolina's Sales Tax Holiday in which school supplies are exempt from sales tax. We were delighted to discover that computers are on the list of approved items and purchased a new Dell Inspiron 1720, which is due on or about August 21. I plan to get my blogs back on track once we adjust to Vista.

I have one exciting story to share about Pamela. Last Saturday, Steve and Pamela went to Charleston (I had a prior commitment and could not go). They ran errands, ate a nice lunch, and were heading home when Steve stopped to gas up the car. He peeked in the window of the car and spotted Pamela nonchalantly making a phone call. She has never called someone on her own initiative. In fact, prior to starting RDI last March, I could barely get her to sit through, "Hi", two answers, and "Good-bye". In the past couple of months, she has gradually improving in having phone conversations.

Who was Pamela calling? Me! I picked up the phone and heard, "What are you doing?" So, I told her that I had gone to a meeting with Oma and was answering email. Then, I asked her what she was doing, and she told me the events of her day! She did not ask me what was for dinner, nor did Pamela have an ulterior motive in mind. She called simply to call and share her day!

For gentle readers without an autistic child to brighten their lives, that was a WOW moment worthy of Snoopy dancing and deep pressure hugs!